etrayalogs | JUNE MINGLE.

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: Late June into Early July
WHERE: On Etraya
WHAT: A mingle log!
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A, please note any needed warnings in threads.

⏵ arrival ⏴
Maybe your arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in the pristine, new hospital, greeted by Aurora and potentially getting a rundown of what's happening depending on their approach to being dropped somewhere new. The door to their room opens, and new arrivals are left free to explore their new environment.

Or perhaps you started in space. Perhaps you were stuck on a space station, trying to escape a black hole for who knows how long. Time isn't consistent there, not like it's meant to be.

And then you're here. Maybe you stepped foot into an odd hallway, which broke off into an escape pod which promptly disappeared entirely and ended up docking on the Southeast part of the city. Perhaps you had been walking through the hallways when suddenly you felt a pull. A tugging sensation in your gut, moments before the floor dropped away and the air was stolen from your lungs. It almost, almost feels like dying - like drowning but without the water. Stars flash before your eyes, and a warm sensation begins spreading from that tug. Right when it feels like it's beginning to get too hot, you're suddenly too cold.

And standing in front of Corrine's Cafe, drenched in fluid that's a little too gooey (don't put it in your mouth, Connor) to be considered water. Maybe don't think about that too hard.

A few companion bots swarm the area before long, bringing towels and apologies for newcomers. This isn't how you're meant to arrive, but at least they got you off that ship! They'll hand over an earpiece, but rather than earpieces that are not yet programmed with names, the companion bots have taken it upon themselves to give names out to the newcomers. Some may be closer to an average name, like "Jimmy Smith", or "Arthur Pendragon" (that's normal, right?), or they may be something a little more nonsensical, like "CHEESE IS DELICIOUS".

If they make their way to the hospital, Aurora will give something closer to her normal spiel. Those who don't may want to ask some of their newfound friends because there's no explanation given by the bots working the cafe or those who have come to help. Maybe the others who have been here longer will have a better explanation.

⏵ friendship bracelets ⏴
On July 1st, Aurora sends out a message to everyone through their ear pieces:

Hello, Citizens of Etraya.

I am glad that you enjoyed your coffee break. Given the success of this previous endeavor, I have opted to try another experiment. This mission is optional, you are not required to complete it. However, the successful completion of this mission may aid in assisting me in assigning similar missions in the future. I would recommend, if you enjoy the task, to make an attempt.

My companion bots will be handing out ten beads to each participant along with a piece of string. You will each receive one red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, pink, silver, and black bead. The goal of this mission will be to assemble a bracelet that is one color, by exchanging beads between participants. You may choose what finished color you would like to aim for. Given the limited quantity of beads, you will want to ensure you are choosing a color that has not already been widely chosen.

I would like to see twenty completed bracelets. Once completed, you may return them to any companion bot. I have set up the Diner to accommodate this, but you may participate from anywhere on Etraya.

If I receive at least twenty bracelets, I will provide two of those who complete theirs the opportunity to assist me in choosing not the next mission, but the one after that.

Thank you,
Aurora

As stated in Aurora's announcement, the Diner has been set up with numerous "friendship" themed party banners. There are cookies and cakes out on the tables, although they may not be to everyone's tastes: some of the flavors are a little outrageous, while others are more generic. Just don't expect that cookie that looks like it has pickles in it instead of chocolate chips to be anything but a pickle cookie. Because it is one.

⏵ nova city ⏴ The Southeast of Etraya had been relatively empty; Wolf Cove has overtaken the southernmost bit of land with its own little environmental set up: instead of the green grass featured in the rest of Etraya, it's covered in snow. But Wolf Cove isn't the only new addition: Nova City has overtaken a large portion of two massive islands. Numerous skyscrapers stand tall enough that their rooftops almost hit the atmospheric bubble Etraya has surrounded itself in.

The buildings themselves, however, are empty. There is no furniture, no signs of life, no dust, even. These facilities were not put here to use the insides of the buildings, but for the sake of having buildings.

But like with all new additions to Etraya, new buildings also mean an array of new creatures. Birds of all shapes and sizes flock to the empty city, enjoying standing on top of street lamps, stray cats wander through alleyways, rodents of all shapes have begun appearing and making themselves comfortable. But those aren't the issue.

It's the massive snakes that take up almost entire alleyways as they make their way between buildings, attempting to devour any creature small enough to fit into their mouths that happen to come across them. The green dragon that has built a nest on one of the taller buildings, and has a habit of swatting at anyone who comes near her - or worse yet, when she's particularly in a foul mood, breathes fire on them.

Aurora has asked for those capable, to try and handle at least the snakes. They're fine while they're in the city, but there is no guarantee they will stay there. The dragon at least seems content staying right where she is.

⏵ NOTES ⏴

To report a completed bracelet, please reply to the bracelet turn-in comment. Given the fifth mission is scheduled in September, we will continue to accept submissions for this through the beginning of August, at which point we will randomly select two characters.

For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please reply to our mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thank you.

[ Likewise, Rin adds the red bead to her string and tucks it back into her shoulder bag, which has a sword slung through loops at it stop. ]

My name is Rin Asano! What is yours?

[Idly his eyes find themselves lingering on the sword, but as she introduces herself, his attention returns to her.]

You may kneel before Barnabas Tharmr, Warden of Ash and King of Waloed.

[Yet, the way he says it is not the way one might assume a King might speak. There's no pride or ego to it, his tone neutral, his voice still soft. As if simply stating a fact, and little else. More of a scripted response, than that of a true command.]

[ Rin is taken aback by this enough that she just. Stares and blinks. ]

Hah?

[That is quite the reaction, and he meets it with his own placid regard. His eyebrows raising ever so slightly. Has she never met a King before? It is not entirely impossible, she did not smack of nobility, though admittedly, neither does he for how he carries himself. Especially when compared to the typical aristocracy.

He will wait and allow her to catch up with the moment. At least he does not seem offended by her?]

[ Rin is, in fact, a samurai's daughter, and so a member of the martial nobility of her country.

But that was over two years ago, and she's spent a lot of that time in the world of criminals.

She has also never met outright royalty.

Her eyes narrow for a moment as she considers her options. Is he a real king? He doesn't appear to be joking. And while he doesn't have a menacing aura, exactly, she's literally just met him, so she can't know how he'd react if she were to challenge him.

She'd like to survive. And so she nods, and gets down on both of her knees. Then, she places her hands in front of her, bowing her head over them. ]

It is an honor, your highness.

[He watches her, his expression unchanging as she kneels before him and pays the proper respect one of his title deserves. He feels nothing for it, but that is not a bad thing necessarily. He is well versed in the mummery of ceremony, even if he cares little for the performance that goes into it. His supremacy is something he is well aware of, and he barely needs others to validate it for what it is, burdened as he is with it. However that does not mean he enjoys disrespect over respect, when it comes down to it.

It is all so meaningless to him in the end, but those who are agreeable tend to better serve than those who are not, and so they earn themselves the gift of peace.]

You may rise.

[And regardless of whether she does or not, he adds:]

My crown means little here, yet you would kneel all the same.

[ It's not that Rin particularly likes being subservient. But in the current situation? She doesn't really see any reason to take her chances. Not now.

Had he actually done anything worth defying him over, things would look different, but so far, he's just standing around. So if Rin just gives him what he wants and keeps the peace, she should stay unbothered. Hopefully.

At his cue, she rises. Her head remains bowed at first, but she lifts it to look him in the eye when he remarks upon her kneeling. ]

Certainly a king would bear no disrespect, sir.

Indeed.

[He says plainly, not really giving any hint either way he might feel besides that single word. Though he is of the opinion that not all kings are worthy of their crowns, nor the bending of knees their titles inspire, at least Rin has the sense to not provoke a conflict needlessly.

However, while he has her here...]

What know you of this place, of our purpose? If aught is known beyond that which we have since been charged by our keeper.

[A beat.]

Are the beads usual?

[ Right. Explanations. She can do that! And is glad to have something more familiar for social interactions. ]

Well, every so often, Aurora likes to give us "missions". I understand that they are mostly meant to be bonding activities, because she says cooperation is important to saving our worlds, and so I guess she feels the need to force it.

[ Yes, there is audible distaste in her voice. Rin is friendly! She likes to cooperate! But she'd like to do it without being forced to play these games, okay! ]

These beads are definitely one of the more benign ones. We've also had, uhm... a labyrinth with monsters and all sorts of weird, dangerous trials. And plush animals that came alive to kill us.

[For all Barnabas' expression doesn't change much at the mention of bonding activities, there's subtle tension in the air around him from it. As she talks, his eyes drift to the others around them as the are busying themselves with their own tasks, before letting his sight settle on her once more.

When she finishes, his brow furrows with muted puzzlement.]

And there is no rhyme or reason to these missions? Naught that threads them together beyond cooperation?

[Are they simply chaotic? Is their task to bring chaos to heel through order and unity?]

Not that I can tell, no. You never quite know what's going to happen next.

[ Rin does not like it!! There's a limit to how many surprises a girl can take, okay. ]

Hmm.

[Not much of a response, but it does give him something to think on. The randomness is worth considering, and it makes sense in its own way. Become too predictable and your test subjects will have the advantage, and a world's problems are hardly ever truly predictable.]

Very well. Your assistance will be remembered.

[Whatever that means.]

Alright. You're welcome.

[ She offers him a small, polite bow, and then just kind of stands there, unsure how to proceed.

Perhaps at home, she would've thought it advantageous to get a royal on her side. Or she'd be suspicious of what they're up to. Here, she's more likely to be the latter -- if he's going to continue to act all entitled like that.

She'll definitely keep an eye on him, though. ]

JUNE MINGLE.

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